Andrew Tuthill (14) of Eastview and David Smith (11) of Edina battled for the ball in the second half of last year's state Class 2A semifinals. Star Tribune file photo by Carlos Gonzalez
Rivalries abound in every high school athletic conference, and in the Lake Conference the best might be Edina facing Eden Prairie.
The two schools are accustomed to raising championship trophies. Eden Prairie has been a staple of success in football and, more recently, lacrosse. The Hornets have won the past two state Class 2A boys hockey titles.
Time to add soccer to the growing list of sports these programs might dominate as Edina (1-1-2), ranked No. 3 in the Minnesota State High School Soccer Coaching Association's Class 2A preseason poll and Eden Prairie (1-1-0), ranked No. 6, square off in our Top Game of the Week.
Both teams begin conference play on Tuesday, and all five teams in the Lake could be ranked in the top 10 by week's end.
The Hornets need to bounce back after suffering two ties and a loss last week. They face Eden Prairie on Tuesday, Wayzata on Thursday and Blake on Saturday. Seniors Adam Panken and Sam Dunn lead Edina in scoring with two goals apiece.
Tanner Morrison and Cameron Laedke have shared time in goal for Edina, but Morrison, a senior, has played the majority of minutes and allowed three goals.
Eden Prairie is also in need of a victory and faces a difficult stretch of games. The Eagles, coming off a 2-1 loss to Eagan last Thursday, host Minnetonka (No. 2-2A) on Thursday before a Saturday showdown at home with Holy Family Catholic, which beat Edina last week.
Through two games, the Eagles have two goals and might need to improve their scoring if they plan to keep pace with the Hornets.
Tab over to see details on each game.
Tag(s): Boys' MSHSL Big 9 Mankato East Rochester John Marshall Central Lakes Sartell Sauk Rapids-Rice Hiawatha Valley Rochester Lourdes Lake Eden Prairie Edina Hopkins Minnetonka Wayzata Minneapolis City Minneapolis Southwest Minneapolis Washburn Benilde-St. Margaret's St. Louis Park Andover Centennial Suburban East East Ridge Park of Cottage Grove Roseville Minneapolis City Metro West